Thanks to Lisa’s post I spent most of last night and this morning researching the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. I am intrigued and disappointed by this new law. After much research, it appears that this law will indeed ban the sale of any item (for children under twelve) that has not undergone independent third party testing in order to meet safety requirements. The Act is so vague that even people on the Commission cannot answer the question of if this act would also apply to used toys or toys already on the shelves.
Small businesses and people who make toys will not be able to afford this testing as it can range from $200 to $5000 per product. While this law was written to protect our kids from the dangerous toys made in China, its scope is much broader and will affect everyone who makes and sells toys for children.
To be honest I am sure our house is filled with hundreds of “made in China” toys. But I prefer handmade toys for my kids. In my opinion they are usually better made, encourage more creativity, and I like supporting small businesses. What is your opinion? Are handmade toys better? I have a friend who refuses to buy anything made in China, I love her dedication, but have been unable to pass up certain items. Does it matter to you where the items you purchase are made? What about food, would you rather purchase something grown locally or get a better price on apples grown in China?
As we ring in the new year, this is something I want to be more conscious about when spending money. How about you?
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I just found your blog yesterday. Thank you for mentioning this here. So many people have no idea about this law. Even boutiques! They have no idea that they might have to close up shop in a month. I make things to sell on etsy and had plans to try to sell in some kid boutiques locally, but not now. So many people will be affected by this. Onething I have done is voted and commented on Obama’s website, Change.org, where Obama has promised to look at the top ten highest voted ideas/concerns his first day in office. This is a link to the mention of CPSIA – http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia and a new round of voting starts Monday, the 5th. I’m trying to send out emails to all my contacts to vote come Monday. I hope it helps somehow.
But, again, thank you for bringing this up here.
[Reply]
Definitely prefer handmade over made in China; locally grown over industrial. BUT cost and convenience and availability often play trump.
I had no idea about any of this before you posted about it. Robyn’s comment above about voting on Obama’s website sounds like a word worth spreading.
[Reply]
My friend wrote a post about this about a week or so ago too. It’s terrible they would ban handmade local toys like that.
If I could afford it, I would rather have handmade toys. The quality is usually so much better.
As for food, I do try to buy food mostly from the US. I prefer locally raised meats and my chickens give me fresh eggs. I only buy organic milk for my little one. The rest of the family has to use the regular milk. I just can’t afford it for everyone.
[Reply]
It is a shame that they couldn’t just make this apply to products that are imported to protect are domestic production. Inside our borders we have ample laws to protect the consumers. When dealing with foreign sovereign countries we are at their mercy.
[Reply]
It’s a shame that things made abroad have to be SO MUCH cheaper for the frugal moms out there. I’ve given up on trying to only buy US made products, but definitely prefer handmade items. Gotta support the local small businesses!
[Reply]
I haven’t heard of this, but it doesn’t surprise me. It won’t work either, for what they want it to. China doesn’t have to abide by our rules.
[Reply]
I think it’s very important to support local businesses and restaurants because their tax payments go back into your local government and they hire workers from your neighborhood.
I don’t think all factory-made items are bad (who’d want a hand-made car?), but I do try to avoid buying items made in China because I don’t support the Chinese government’s policies, especially concerning treatment of workers, the one-child policy, and forced abortions/sterilizations. It gets harder every year, but I do my best.
I hope that Congress takes a second look at CPSIA and passes some amendments. It seems that our legislators thought only about the big picture and didn’t consider the effects on individuals…the ones with shops on Main Street, U.S.A.
IMHO, the best way to bring this issue to the attention of Congress – they passed it, after all – is to write your Congressperson and Senators and make your opinions known. Telling the President is okay, but your legislator is in office NOW and can help sponsor a new bill NOW. Don’t wait; draft up a short letter and send it off. (You can use the same letter for each legislator.)
This issue is suddenly getting a lot of Internet play – let’s see if we can get some attention from bigger networks.
[Reply]
Food-definitely local, because it naturally should be that way, but…I’ll probably get hate mail for this but I actually throw my support to products regardless of where it is made. I think people all over the world should have the right to work and to employment, not just Americans. Where a toy is made us usually low on my list when I’m considering something to bring in my home. Quality and purpose of the product is usually first.
[Reply]
For food I definitely buy local organic when available. For other products I’d love to buy American (my car is 81% made in USA) but honestly it’s not always very easy to find. (I live in rinky-dink-ville). I think it’s a bummer if the new law puts people out of business but I’m not going to trust my child’s safety just on the fact something was made in the USA by a small business–I want proof their products are safe. They need to make money too so what’s to stop them from cutting corners. If our food industry is any indication, the USA producer doesn’t care about our health and safety over profit any more than foreign producers do.
[Reply]